Principal - Test Lead

1611 Ally Bank; Charlotte (NC); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Ally Financial is seeking a Principal Test Lead for the Deposits engineering team to drive QA strategy and execution across multiple vendors and teams. The role requires deep banking domain knowledge and hands-on test automation to ensure comprehensive full-stack coverage.

The candidate will design end-to-end testing, coordinate performance tests, and lead defect management with strong governance. Hybrid work options apply in a banking engineering environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in software testing with 5+ years in banking/financial services.
• Full Stack Testing across UI, API, middleware, database, integration points.
• Proficiency in test automation frameworks: Cypress, Maestro, Cucumber, Watchman/Watchmen, Rest Assured.
• Frontend testing (web and mobile).
• Backend services and microservices testing.
• Integration testing across system boundaries.
• Test data management and data conditioning strategies.
• Proven track record leading enterprise-level testing initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Design and coordinate integrated test plans across Agile teams, vendors, and enterprise.
• Define comprehensive full-stack test strategy across UI, API, services, database, and integration layers.
• Establish test environment requirements for complete stack validation.
• Drive end-to-end testing execution across all testing teams and technology layers.
• Coordinate performance testing initiatives (load, stress, scalability).
• Monitor test script execution and burndown metrics.
• Create and maintain defect dashboards in JIRA; define defect reporting standards.
• Provide initiative-level test status reporting and testing health criteria.
• Lead routine testing ceremonies and coordinate with vendor testing teams.

Skills

Software testing

Full stack testing

End-to-end testing

Cypress

Maestro

Cucumber

Watchmen

Rest Assured

Frontend testing

Backend testing

Integration testing

Test data management

Education

High school Diploma or GED

Job description

Ally and Your Career Ally Financial only succeeds when its people do - and that’s more than some cliché people put on job postings. We love this stuff! We see our people as, well, people - with interests, families, friends, dreams, and causes that are all important to them. Our focus is on the health and safety of our teammates as well as work-life balance and diversity and inclusion. From generous benefits to a variety of employee resource groups, we strive to build paths that encourage employees to stretch themselves professionally. We want to help you grow, develop, and learn new things. You’re constantly evolving, so shouldn’t your opportunities be, too?

Work Schedule: Ally designates roles as (1) fully on-site, (2) hybrid, or (3) fully remote. Hybrid roles are generally expected to be in the office a certain number of days per week as indicated by your manager. Your hiring manager will discuss this role's specific work requirements with you during the hiring process. All work requirements are subject to change at any time based on leader discretion and/or business need.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Principal Test Lead to drive quality assurance strategy and execution for our Deposits engineering team. This role requires deep banking domain expertise combined with hands‑on test automation experience to coordinate integrated testing across multiple teams and vendors, ensuring comprehensive full stack testing coverage.

The Work Itself

Strategic Planning

• Design and coordinate integrated test plans across Agile teams, vendors, Contact Center, Operations, and Enterprise
• Define comprehensive full stack test strategy covering UI, API, services, database, and integration layers
• Establish test environment requirements for complete stack validation
• Define test data management and data conditioning frameworks
• Drive end‑to‑end testing execution across all testing teams and technology layers

Test Execution & Coordination

• Facilitate full stack testing activities across multiple workstreams: Frontend/UI Layer: User interface, user experience, accessibility
• API Layer: REST services, GraphQL, microservices
• Business Logic Layer: Application services, workflows, business rules
• Data Layer: Database operations, data integrity, persistence
• Integration Layer: Third‑party systems, vendor integrations, internal services
• Ensure proper test coverage for deposits functionality across entire stack
• Coordinate performance testing initiatives (load, stress, scalability)
• Monitor test script execution and burndown metrics

Defect Management

• Create and maintain defect tracking dashboards in JIRA
• Establish defect reporting standards (CIF, environment, reproduction steps, screenshots, request/response, expected vs. actual, stack layer affected)
• Coordinate defect remediation across teams and technology layers
• Facilitate assignment and defect triage meetings
• Track defect aging and escalating blockers
• Set defect priorities (Critical/High/Medium/Low, MVP classification)

Reporting & Metrics

• Provide initiative‑level test status reporting (Daily/Weekly/Governance)
• Define testing health status criteria (Red/Yellow/Green) across all stack layers
• Track environment metrics (availability, outages, uptime targets)
• Generate defect and test script burndown charts
• Report test coverage by stack layer (UI, API, services, database, integration)
• Identify and communicate blockers, issues, risks, and watch items
• Develop remediation plans and mitigation strategies

Facilitation & Governance

• Lead routine testing ceremonies: Assignment Meetings: Record team assignments, set priorities
• Defect Meetings: Review assignments, set fix dates, identify blocked scripts
• Ensure structured status reporting from individual teams and vendors
• Coordinate with vendor testing teams
• Validate full stack test coverage across all initiatives

Qualifications

We’re Looking For

• 7+ years in software testing with 5+ years in banking/financial services
• Full Stack Testing Expertise: End-to-end testing across all application layers (UI, API, middleware, database, integration points)
• Expert proficiency in test automation frameworks: Cypress, Maestro, Cucumber, Watchmen, Rest Assured
• Frontend testing (web and mobile interfaces)
• Backend services and microservices testing
• Integration testing across system boundaries
• Test data management and data conditioning strategies
• Proven track record leading enterprise-level testing initiatives

Minimum Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
• High school Diploma or GED equivalent

How We’ll Have Your Back

Ally’s compensation program offers market‑competitive base pay and pay‑for‑performance incentives (bonuses) based on achieving personal and company goals. Our Total Rewards program includes industry‑leading compensation and benefits plus additional incentives that are designed to meet your needs and those of your family so you can get the most out of your career and your life, including:

• Time Away: Program starts at 20 paid time off days in addition to 11 paid holidays and 8 hours of volunteer time off yearly (time off days are prorated based on start date and program varies based on full or part‑time status and management level).
• Planning for the Future: plan for the near and long term with an industry‑leading 401K retirement savings plan with matching and company contributions, student loan pay downs and 529 educational save up assistance programs, tuition reimbursement, employee stock purchase plan, and financial learning center and financial coach access.
• Supporting your Health & Well‑being: flexible health and insurance options including medical, dental and vision, employee, spouse and child life insurance, short- and long‑term disability, pre‑tax Health Savings Account with employer contributions, Healthcare FSA, critical illness, accident & hospital indemnity insurance, and a total well‑being program that helps you and your family stay on track physically, socially, emotionally, and financially.
• Building a Family: adoption, surrogacy and fertility assistance as well as paid parental and caregiver leave, Dependent Day Care FSA back‑up child and adult/elder care days and childcare discounts.
• Work‑Life Integration: other benefits including Mentally Fit Employee Assistance Program, subsidized and discounted Weight Watchers program and other employee discount programs.
• Other Compensations: depending on the role for which you are considered, you may be eligible for travel allowances, relocation assistance, a signing bonus and/or equity.

To view more detailed information about Ally’s Total Rewards, please visit this link: https://www.ally.com/content/dam/pdf/corporate/ally-total-rewards-snapshot.pdf

Base Pay Range

$90,000.00 - $150,000.00

Incentive Compensation: This position is eligible to participate in our annual incentive plan.

Who We Are

Ally Financial is a customer‑centric, leading digital financial services company with passionate customer service and innovative financial solutions. We are relentlessly focused on "Doing it Right" and being a trusted financial‑services provider to our consumer, commercial, and corporate customers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy status, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic disposition or any other reason protected by law. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if after review of the position expectations, you believe that you may need a medical accommodation to fulfill the duties of this role, please email [e-mail] with details of your accommodation request.

We all work better as allies. Join a team that thrives on doing it right — whether we’re helping people live their best financial lives or helping each other grow in our careers.

CCPA Notice